Srinagar, Feb. 25 -- Valley is blooming too soon, and it is not a blessing. February, once a month of snow and silence, has turned into a season of blossoms. Temperatures soaring nearly nine degrees above normal have forced plants to awaken early, disrupting the rhythm that nature has followed for centuries. What appears enchanting to the eye is in fact a warning; an alarm sounding against the backdrop of climate change.

The premature flowering of fruit trees, vegetables, and ornamental plants is not just a curiosity; it is a threat to agriculture, livelihoods and the environment. Crops depend on seasonal cues for healthy growth, and when those cues arrive too early, yields suffer, quality declines, and farmers face uncertainty. The dorm...